Hydraulic engine



IIA-VZAZII R. E. NEWCOMB HYDRAULIC ENGINE 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- Filed Oct. 7.

Patented Oct. 30, 1923;

LWEAZE :BOIBERT E. NEWCOMB, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'IO WORTHINGTON PUMP AND MACHINERY CORPORATION,

VIRGINIA.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF HYDRAULIC ENGINE.

Application filed October 7, 1921. Serial No. 506,135.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. NEWCOMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Holyoke, county of Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in Hydraulic En gines, fully described and represented in-the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of 'the same.

This invention relates to lIIIPIOVEIIIBDtS in hydraulic engines;

It-is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hydraulic engine es pecially adapted for deep-well pumps, in which either single or double-acting pistons adapted to operate well-barrel bucket rods, are actuated by water rods receiving their power impulse from a pumping mechanism remotely located with respect to such hydraulic engine. The invention also aims to provide a novel arrangement by which drifting or slipping of the hydraulic engine pistons with respect to the plungers of the remotely situated actuating pump, which may be due to leakage or other causes, will be automatically corrected on starting, and synchronous action of the plungers of the actuating pump and the pistons of the hydraulic engine be automatically maintained, thus assuring full volumetric elliciency of the pumping elements and minimizing the necessity of frequent removal thereof for adjustment, or repair of breakage resulting from displacement.

For a full understanding of the invention, a detailed description of preferred constructions for carrying the same into effect will now be given, in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel fea- 40 tures of the invention then be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic showing of a three bucket deep-well pump, with the improved hydraulic engine in its complete form with the means for maintaining synchronous action of the actuating pump and the hydraulic engine;

Figure 2 is a similar View of the actuating pump, looking to the left of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, show ing a modified construction of hydraulic engine, actuating pump and water rod con and described nections for operating such engine, in connectlon with a two bucket pump; Figure 4 is an end View looking to the right n Fig. 3, showing the actuating pump cylinders and valved connections to the makeup tank or means for maintaining synchronous action of the hydraulic engine and actuating pump, and

igure 5 is a top plan View of the actuating pump of Fig. 3, showing the water rod connections thereto.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, the device shown is arranged to operate the bucket rods of a three bucket deep-well pump of the type shown in United States Patent No. 1,102,583, dated July 7, 1914. The actuating pump, indicated generally at P and which may be located at thesurface of a well or at a point distant from the hydraulic engine W, consists of three single-acting plunger-s 1, '2, 3, working in vertical cylinders a, 6,0 and reciprocated through a crank shaft connection of usual construction, the cranks preferably being set at 120 apart. Each of the cylinders a, b, c is connected at its lower or discharge end by water rods or pipes 4, 5, 6 with the lower ends of the well or hydraulic engine cylinders A. B, C, the upper ends of each of the latter cylinders being in communication with each other through a manifold connection D communicating with a make-up tank E, as hereinafter described. In the. cylinders A, B, C are located pistons 7, 8, 9 having telescoping piston rods 10,11, 12, having bucket rod extensions 13, 14, 15, respectively, connected to buckets 30, 31, 32. I

From the foregoing it will be obvious that as the ,plungers 1, 2, 3 of the actuating pump are reciprocated the pistons 7, 8, 9 of the hydraulic engine will be reciprocated also, the pistons of the hydraulic engine being lifted as the respective plungers in the cylinders of the actuating pump, with which the cylinders of the hydraulic engine are connected, move downward, the liquid behind the pistons 7, 8, 9 passing from one cyllinder to the next through the manifold connection D as such pistons move in opposite directions to each other.

Due to leakage or other causes, when the pump is operating or idle, it frequently happens that one or more of the hydraulic engine pistons may slip or drift from correct relationship With respect to the plungers of the actuating pump, and in order to assure synchronous action of the pumping elements, that is, so that the well or hydraulic engine pistons will at all times be free to make full length strokes in each direction by theimpulses imparted to them by the actuating pump through the water rod connections thereto, as above described, there is provided a synchronizing means, one preferred embodiment of which will now be described. Each of the cylinders of the actuating pump P. is in communication at its discharge end with a tank E, hereinafter referred to as the make-up tank, through an inlet d and outlet e, such inlet and outlet connections being also provided with 'check and relief valves f, g, respectively. The manifold D, which is intended to permit liquid displaced in one cylinder of the hydraulic engine to enter another cylinder behind the piston therein as such pistons move in opposition to each other, is also connected by a pipe F to the tank E, such connection being through inlet h and outlet 2', the former having a relief valverindicated generally at is located therein, and the latter'a check valve Z located therein.

The operation of the device 'so far described is as follows. the hydraulic enginepiston A has drifted or slipped to the bottom of its cylinder, and

moving upward toward completion 0 full stroke, any additional liquid required will be drawn past the check valve 9 from that plunger 1 of the actuating pump is its tank E, while any surplus liquid in the manifold D caused by such displacement of the piston, will be discharged through pipe'F past relief valve k in inlet it into the tank E. Thus, on the first complete revolution of the actuating pump, the pistons of the hydraulic engine will be correctly positioned with respect to the plungers of such actuating ump, and efficient actionof the pumping e ements thereafter assured.

1 Referring now to the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the actuating pump, indicated genorally at P, is of the opposed piston type,

that is, the four cylinders Z, m and n, o

' (Fig.,-5 thereof'being arranged in alined pairs and having plungers 15, 16*and 17,

18 respectively, working in unison in' each :alined pair and-in opposite direction to the plungers of the opposite alined pain- The cyllnders Z, m and n, 0 of the actuating pump are connected by water rods or pipes 19, 20 and 21, 22, respectively, with the cyllnders F, G of the hydraulic engine Y, as shown, the latter being located at any de-' sired point in the well, or at a point distant from, the actuating pump. The pistons 23,

24 of the hydraulic engine have telescopic make full length Assuming now that piston rods 25,26 with bucket rod extensions of the well engine will 'bereciprocated in opposition to the direction of motion of the actuating pump plunger, the cylinder of which is connected to such hydraulic engine cylinder.

In this construction, also, it sometimes happens that the hydraulic engine pistons may drift or sli from correct relationship with respect tot eplungers of the actuating pump, due to leakage. or other cause while the pump is idle oroperating, and in order to assure correct relationship of the pum ing elements, that is, so that the hydrau ic engine pistons will be automatically adjusted on starting and'maintained in proper relation with respect to the plungers of such actuating pump and be thereby caused to with consequent full pumping efficiency of thewell buckets, there is provided a synchronizing arrangement somewhat similar to that previously described. The present construction, however, dispenses with the manifold and cylinder and makeup tank'connections of Fig. 1, each of the cylinders 15, 16 and 17, 18 being in communication with such make-up tank H through'inlets s, s and outlet t. The four cylinders are preferably connected to the tank H by T-connections as shown, and the inlets s, s are provided with relief valves of ordinary construction, indicated generally at 11., while the outlet at has check valves 4;, o located in the T-con nections, as shown in Fig. 4:.

' It will be obvious from the foregoingthat if piston 24, for instance, in well or hydraulic engine cylinder G, should slip or drift to the bottom of such cylinder while plunger 18 of the,actuating pump P is moving outward to complete its stroke, the necessary additional liquid to assure proper position-, ing of such piston with respect to such actuating pump plunger will be drawn through connection t from, make-up tank H, while surplus liquid above. such piston will be discharged past the ,relief valve u in inlet 8 to tank H, thereby correctly positioning the hydraulic engine piston 24 with respectto strokes in each directionthe actuating pump plunger, 18 on the first of the actuating pump, and displacement is prising a plurality dueonly to leakage or slipping, While the pump is idle or operating, respectively. The relie valves on the make-up tank inlets may be readily adjusted to prevent entrance of liquid under ordinary Working conditions, and to open onl under a pressure in excess of that require to move the hydraulic engine pistons;

The synchronizing device has been shown only in connection with a plurality of hydraulic engine and actuating pump pistons or plungers, but obviously this synchronizingdevice is applicable, also, in connection with apparatus having only a single bydraulic engine and actuating pump piston or plunger, and is thus claimed. It will be understood, alsb, that the invention is not to be confined to use solely with deep-well pumps, but may be readily adapted to apparatus in which hydraulically operated engine pistons are controlled by a distant pump. It is also to be understood that various changes and modifications in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made, while still retaining the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulically operated engine, comof cylinders arranged in longitudinal alinement, power transmitting pistons therein, a plurality of telescoping piston rods' connected to the respective pistons in said cylinders, water rod connections to said cylinders, impulses to said water rods, and means for synchronizing the movements of said hydraulic engine dpistons with respect toeach other and sai power impulse imparting means. 7

2. A hydraulically operated engine, comprising a plurality of cylinders arranged in longitudinal alinement, power transmitting pistons therein, a plurality of telescoping piston rods connected to the respective pistons in said cylinders, pumping elements carried by said piston rods, water rod connections to said cylinders, and means for imparting power impulses to said water rods,

means for imparting power impulses'to said water rods, and means for synchronizing the movements of said hydraulic engine pistons with respect to each other and said power impulse imparting means.

3. A hydraulically operated engine, comprising a plurality of cylinders arranged in longitudinal a-linement, power transmitting pistons therein, a plurality of telescoping piston rods connecte to the respective pistons in said cylinders, water rod connections to said cylinders, means for imparting power impulses to said water rods at predetermined intervals to cause said hydraulic en' gine pistons to move in timed relation with respect to each other and sald water rod power impulse imparting means.

means for imparting power 4. A hydraulically operated engine, comprising'a plurality of cylinders, power trans mitting pistons therein, water rod connections to said cylinders, an actuating pump for imparting power impulses to said water rods for reciprocating said hydraulic engine pistons, a make-up tank, and inlet and outlet connections thereto from the actuating pump cylinders and the hydraulic engine cylinders for automatically maintaining synchronous movements of said hydraulic engine pistons with respect to each other and the actuating pump plungers.

5. A hydraulically operated engine, comprising a plurality of cylinders in longitudinal alinement, power transmitting pistons therein, telescoping piston rods connected to said pistons, pumping elements carried by said piston rod extensions, water rod connections to said cylinders, an actuating1 pump for imparting power impulses to sai water rods for reciprocating said pistons, and means for maintaining synchronous action of the hydraulic engine pistons with respect to each other and the actuating pump plungers.

6. A hydraulically operated engine, comprising a plurality of cylinders arranged in longitudinal alinement, power transmitting pistons therein, water rod connections to said cylinders, an actuating pump for imparting power impulses to said water rods for actuating said pistons, a make-up tank, inlet and outlet connections thereto from the actuating pump cylinders and the hydraulic engine cylinders, relief and check valves, respectively, in said inlet and outlet connections, whereby synchronous action of the hydraulic engine pistons with respect to each other and the actuating pump plungers is secured.

7. A hydraulically operated engine, comprising a plurality of cylinders, power transmitting pistons therein, water rod connections to said cylinders, an actuating pump for imparting power impulses to said water rods for actuating said pistons, and a manifold connection said hydraulic engine to permit displace ment of liquid from one cylinder to another as the pistons therein move in opposite directions. i

8. A hydraulically operated engine, comprising a plurality of cylinders, ower transmitting pistons therein, water r connections to said cylinders, an actuating pump for imparting power impulses to said Water rods for actuating said pistons, a manifold connection between thecylinders of said hydraulic engine to permit displacement of liquid from cylinder tocylinder as the pistons therein move in opposition to each other, and valved connections between the cylinders of both the actuating pump and the hydraulic engine and the make-up between the cylinders of a pump respectively.

9. A hydraulically operated engine, comprising a plurality of cylinders, power transmitting pistons therein, water rod connections to said cylinders, an actuating pump for imparting wer impulses to said water rods for actuating said hydraulic engine pistons, a connection between the cylinders of said hydraulic engine to permit displacement of liquid from cylinder to cylinder as the pistons therein move in opposition to each other, and means for automatically synchronizing the movements of the hydraulie engine pistons with respect to each other and the actuating pump lungers.

10. A deep well pump having a plurality of buckets arranged in line, a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein having rods connected to the respective buckets, water rod connections to said cylinders, an actuating pump for imparting power impulses to said pistons through said water rods at predetermined intervals for operating said buckets, and means for synchronizing the movements of the bucket rod pistons with respect to each other and the actuating pump plungers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand.

y ROBERT E. NEWCOMB. 

